The Rebel Cowboy's Baby--A Clean Romance

by Sasha Summers

  * * *

  AUDY WAS TEETERING between hope and defeat. She wasn’t laughing or pushing him away but she wasn’t exactly hugging him close. She was perfectly still. Staring at him. Absolutely silent. Her eyes gave so much away but here, in the dark, there was no way to know what she was thinking—or feeling—or wanting. And the not knowing was brutal.

  Maybe he’d done this all wrong. Maybe? More like probably.

  He’d rushed it. Flubbed the whole thing. There was nothing romantic about this. Romance, man. What was he thinking? That standing between two cars—no flowers, no pretty words, no nothing—would win her over? Just him acting like a fool, and asking her to give him a chance.

  And how had she responded?

  Silence.

  He was pretty sure that was answer enough.

  Best course of action? Retreat with whatever dignity he could salvage. Too little, too late.

  “Brooke.” He cleared his throat but the boulder blocking his windpipe didn’t budge. It took effort, but he forced his hands to his sides and took a step back. “I’m sorry for this—”

  “Brooke?” Tess called out. “Brooke. You will not believe it. You won’t.” She ran down the steps. “I’m so excited.”

  Audy wasn’t about to rain on Tess’s parade. He smiled, hoping he sounded curious and eager instead of heartbroken. “About what?”

  “Guess,” Tess said, grabbing Brooke’s hand. “You won’t believe it.”

  Brooke held Tess’s hands in hers. “Ummm...” There was the slightest waver to her voice. “Let’s see. Does it have anything to do with—”

  “Beau? Yes. Yes, it does.” Tess bounced on the balls of her feet. “He asked me to prom. Can you believe it? He did. We carried the dishes into the kitchen and he turned around all of a sudden and said he wanted to go to prom with me. And I asked him if he was asking me to prom and he said yes. He totally asked me to prom.”

  “Did you let him down easy?” Audy asked.

  “Audy.” Tess sounded devastated. “Of course not. No. I said yes. Actually, I think I said, ‘I would like to go to prom with you, Beau.’ Or something like that.”

  “And then what?” Audy asked.

  “Then...he sort of looked at me and I sort of looked at him and now I’m here.” Tess took a deep breath. “I can’t believe he asked me.”

  “Why not?” Audy laughed. “You’ve taken care of him when he had a concussion and studied pre-calculus together. I’d say you’ve seen him at his worst and stuck around. A man notices those things.”

  Brooke laughed. “Audy has a point. Besides, you’re pretty awesome, Tess.”

  “Says my big sister.” Tess hugged her. “You’re not the most objective person in the world.”

  “I think you’re pretty awesome, too.” Audy shrugged. “And I am the most objective person in the world.”

  Tess laughed. “I’m so happy.”

  “I can tell.” Brooke patted her cheek.

  “I guess we should go?” Tess glanced back at the front door.

  “I guess we should.” Brooke peered around Tess at the open door. “Are you expecting something?”

  “I don’t know... I guess I just realized I didn’t really say goodbye or anything to Beau.” Tess shrugged. “I was so excited.”

  Brooke glanced his way so chances were she saw him smiling. “Do...do you need to say goodbye?”

  “Only if you don’t mind. Do you?” Tess let go of Brooke’s hand. “I’ll hurry. I know we need to go.”

  “Okay.” Brooke waved her away. “But...just hurry.”

  The two of them watched Tess run back up the steps.

  “Is this okay? I know she’s excited, but I don’t want her to come off as desperate.” Brooke shook her head. “I’m actually impressed. I didn’t think Beau had it in him.”

  “I guess when you want something bad enough you go for it.” Which is exactly what Audy had tried to do. Only, unlike Beau, he hadn’t been successful. “I don’t know how long my brother has been pining for your sister, but I get the feeling this has been a long time coming.” Beau had ended up with his dream date. Audy had wound up feeling like he’d been punched in the gut—not to mention the lump still blocking his throat.

  “I guess.” Brooke turned to face him. “Audy, you have the unique ability to completely throw me off guard. I feel like you’re going to say one thing, and you say the exact opposite.” She took a step toward him. “And even though you do trip over your words...I like your words. And even though you make me angrier than anyone, there’s a part of me that wants to give us a chance.”

  “You do?” He shook his head. The ache in his stomach melted away. So did the lump in his throat. But he had to be certain. “I was pretty sure that long silence back there was the only answer I was going to get.”

  “Like I said, you caught me by surprise.” Her voice was soft, even a little hesitant. “Even now I think this is doomed to fail. I mean, really, Audy, what are we thinking?”

  “Maybe you’ve got a little bit of risk-taker in you, after all.” And he’d never been more relieved.

  “Is that what you are? A risk?” She covered her face with her hands. “What am I saying—of course you are.”

  “Hey, hey, now.” Audy reached out and took her hands in his. “You can’t throw in the towel before things even get started.”

  “Maybe we shouldn’t get started.” Brooke stared up at him. “None of this makes any sense. You realize that?”

  “I know you’re all about being practical and making sense... I get the feeling this is one of those situations where that doesn’t apply.” He squeezed her hands. “Don’t listen to that practical side. Listen to the side that wants to give us a chance. The fun side.”

  Brooke started giggling. Nervous giggling.

  He understood. She was scared. She wasn’t the only one. Inasmuch as he wanted to kiss her, he wanted to make her feel good about giving them a chance. He put her arms around his waist. “Let’s start with this.” He slid his arms around her waist and, gently, pulled her into him. His hand slipped up between her shoulder blades, smoothing over the length of her braid. He savored each detail. The slight hitch in her breath. The press of her hands against his back. The warmth of her breath through his shirtfront as she rested her cheek against his shoulder. She went soft in his arms. He’d spent a fair bit of time imagining this, but nothing he’d imagined could come close to this. How could he have imagined how right she would feel in his arms? “How’s this?” he whispered.

  She nodded.

  “Good?” Another whisper.

  She nodded again.

  Good.

  “What about Tess?” She turned into his chest, her words muffled. “Should I go get her?”

  He ran his hand over her braid again. “Still worried?”

  “My...parents met in high school. To hear my mom talk about him, they were so in love. But it didn’t last... And...I don’t want that for Tess.”

  It all made sense. “I’m sorry about your folks.”

  She nodded. “Me, too.”

  He was sorry that whatever had happened, had made her so skeptical of love. Maybe, in time, he’d be able to change her mind. “I’ll go get her, if that’s what you want.”

  “That’s the problem, Audy. I don’t know what I want.” Her arms tightened around his waist.

  She wasn’t talking about Tess. Well, she wasn’t only talking about Tess. He buried his nose in her silky soft hair. Why had it taken him this long to figure things out? Probably because falling in love was part of a life he’d made up his mind he didn’t want. Falling in love meant being tied down. It meant owning responsibilities. It meant commitment... After a lifetime of being told he was no good at any of those things, of course he wasn’t going to search it out. It was only Brooke who had changed his mind.

 
He’d made up his mind. But he couldn’t make up Brooke’s for her. If she was this uncertain, he wasn’t going to pressure her. It wasn’t easy, but he let her go... Slowly.

  “Don’t get me wrong, Brooke.” He smoothed the hair from her shoulder. “But I don’t want to leap if you’re not ready. I get that you’re torn. We haven’t exactly had the easiest relationship. And this? This is a lot. I get it. There’s no rushing this.” He set her away from him, a sharp hiss of breath exhaling when he released her hands. “When you do know what you want, you let me know.”

  Brooke wrapped her arms around her waist. “Why are you being so...so cautious? I was expecting you to grab me and kiss me and change my mind for me.”

  “And as tempting as that sounds, and it sounds mighty tempting, you’ve got to make up your own mind.”

  Luckily, they could hear Tess. As much as he wanted to do what he said—he’d thought about kissing her for so long that it was almost painful not to do so now—he didn’t want to do something that he’d regret. And he sure didn’t want her to have any regrets. When they took the next step...if they took the next step, regret would not be part of the relationship.

  “And there you go, doing it all over again.” Brooke leaned against the hood of her car.

  “Doing what?” It took everything he had not to reach for her. “Being a gentleman? Yeah, it’s sort of new to me. I’ve got you to blame for that.”

  Brooke laughed. “No, you. Throwing me for a loop all over again.”

  Tess came barreling down the front steps, more excited than ever. She practically bounced down the path to the waiting cars. “Okay, we’re good to go. Thank you. I know we should have gone already. Joy didn’t wake up, did she?” Tess peered in the back seat window. “No, good, she’s still asleep. Whew.” She turned, glancing back and forth between the two of them. “Are we ready to go? Or should I go back inside? Like, I can totally go back inside?”

  “No, Tess.” Brooke pulled the car keys from her pocket. “It’s time to go home.” She pushed off the hood of the car. “’Night, Audy. Thanks... For everything.”

  “I’m glad you came.” He stood there, watching as Brooke went around the front of the car and climbed inside.

  “Audy, did you tell her?” Tess whispered.

  “There’s nothing to tell, Tess. But I am glad things went so well with Beau. I get the feeling you two are going to have a great time at prom.” He waited for Tess to climb into the car, and closed the door for her. He stepped back and waved, watching the car drive away...until there was no sign of the red taillights.

  Audy took his time going back inside. Mabel had always been good at picking up on things. And there had been plenty to pick up on tonight. Still, he couldn’t hang out outside forever. Inside, after almost tripping over Harvey, he headed back into the great room with Harvey at his heels.

  “That was interesting.” Mabel sat with her legs tucked underneath her in the corner of the couch. “How long has that been going on?”

  “Not too long.” Audy flopped down on the couch beside her. “Still trying to make sense of it, if we’re being honest.”

  “Why are you having such a hard time with it?” Mabel patted the couch until Harvey jumped up between the two of them. “It’s pretty obvious that there’s some intense feelings there.”

  “That may be. But I’m not sure she feels the same.” He ran a hand along the back of his neck. “It’s not the sort of thing you can force, you know?”

  “I do.” Mabel was giving Harvey a good neck scratch. “But she seemed pretty excited. Especially after she and Beau talked in the kitchen. Or rather, she talked. Beau seems to get a little shell-shocked when she’s around.”

  Audy propped his elbows on his knees and leaned forward to cover his face. “Right. Tess. Beau. I’d say that’s been going on for some time.”

  “Who did you think we were talking about?”

  “You know exactly who I was talking about.” He peeked at her from between his fingers. “You need me to say it?”

  “Nope.” Mabel patted Harvey on the back. “I’m guessing you didn’t get as lucky as Beau did?”

  “You could say that.” He rubbed his hands over his face and flopped back against the couch. “She’s still on the fence. About...us.”

  “But you’re not?” Mabel stopped patting Harvey, focusing solely on him.

  Audy stared up at the ceiling overhead. “I should be. She and I... We don’t make a lick of sense. But when we’re together, with Joy, or without, it’s just... It’s better. I’m better.” He turned his head to look at her. “So, no, I’m not on the fence. I’m giving her space so she can sort out how she feels, but I’m not going to stand by and do nothing. I’m not looking forward to making a fool of myself or giving the people of Garrison something to talk about, but she needs to know.”

  “She needs to know what?” Mabel rested her head on the back of the couch, her blue eyes searching his.

  Audy took a long, slow breath. “That I love her.”

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  BROOKE WAS ATTACHING blank petition sheets to the stacks of clipboards, but her gaze kept wandering to Tess and Joy on the blanket she’d spread beneath The First Tree. All around her, people were working toward one goal. The air was buzzing with energy and determination. Martha Zeigler, with her megaphone in hand, had rallied the troops.

  The Garrison Ladies Guild was there in full force, along with their relatives. A few people like the Schneiders had brought their relatives’ relatives. There was no shortage of worker bees.

  “What next?” Beau asked.

  “Can you pass these out?” She handed Beau a stack of clipboards. “If they’re wearing a red apron, they signed up to collect signatures.”

  “Can do.” He waved over some of the JV football team and repeated her instructions.

  Beau was an entirely different person with his football buddies. He was calm, in charge and focused. And his manners were impeccable. But once he caught sight of Tess, he was a ball of nerves. If she needed further proof that the boy was head over heels for her sister, she had it. Not that she needed further proof.

  Tess waved at Beau. Her smile lit up her whole face.

  Beau smiled back, and tripped over a folding chair in his path.

  Brooke was trying not to laugh when she spied Audy headed her way. He’d seen the whole thing and was shaking his head, not bothering to hold back his laughter.

  “Don’t be mean,” Brooke scolded him. “He has been working since the crack of dawn.”

  “I’m not being mean. I’m being a brother. We laugh at each other. It’s what we do.” He shrugged. “You look beautiful.”

  Brooke turned so fast her elbow knocked a stack of clipboards onto the ground. She knelt, feeling her face flush, and collected the clipboards.

  Audy crouched beside her, helping her stack the clipboards and putting them back onto the table. “You’d think you’d never heard that before.” He shook his head. “That can’t be true since I know you look beautiful most days.”

  “What are you doing?” She glanced around her, knowing full well the eyes and ears of the Garrison Ladies Guild were everywhere. “Are you trying to start a rumor?”

  “A rumor that I said you were beautiful?” Audy pretended to think about it. “Sure. It’s true.” He winked at her. “That I said it. And that you’re beautiful.”

  “What’s going on over here?” Miss Ruth asked, leaning closer to the two of them. “Looks like you’ve got Brooke all flustered, Audy. You behave now.”

  “Now, what fun would that be, Miss Ruth?” He stepped back, giving Miss Ruth a head-to-toe sweep. “Your hair is looking mighty fine and red today, Miss Ruth.”

  Ruth Monahan giggled like a schoolgirl. “Audy Briscoe, you silver-tongued devil.”

  “You see, that’s how you take a compliment.” Audy
pointed at Miss Ruth. “I was just telling Brooke, here, how—”

  “Audy.” Brooke stared at him in horror. “I think Beau could use your help.”

  “I think Beau has a team of minions. He’s doing just fine.” He took a stack of petition sign-up sheets. “I’d rather stay here and help you.”

  Miss Ruth’s drawn-on eyebrows arched high and her deep red lips curved in a delighted smile. “Isn’t that just the sweetest thing.”

  “That’s me.” Audy winked at Brooke. “At least, that’s what I’m trying to convince her, Miss Ruth.”

  “Are you, now? Why, Audy Briscoe, you act as if you’re sweet on Brooke.” Miss Ruth waited, holding her breath with excitement.

  Brooke wasn’t sure what Audy was up to, but it was nothing good. “Well, that would be just—”

  “The truth. That would be just about the truth.” Audy’s grin was beautiful and mischievous all at the same time.

  Brooke wasn’t sure whether she should laugh or cry. Not only was Miss Ruth staring at her as if she’d grown a second head, Pearl Johnston had caught that last bit and was already hurrying across the clearing to the rest of the gathered Garrison Ladies Guild. “Audy, stop being a tease. You know better than to take him seriously, Miss Ruth.”

  Audy shrugged.

  “Well, dear, he does seem awfully sincere.” Miss Ruth patted Brooke on the arm. “Aren’t you just the lucky one?” Miss Ruth pinched Audy on the cheek, smiled at both of them, and hurried to join Pearl and the rest of the guild.

  “Audy.” Brooke grabbed his arm and tugged him away from the tree.

  “You really think pulling me away like this is a good idea?” Audy had the audacity to turn his hand over, linking their fingers. “I mean, I’m fine with it. But you seemed a little upset by my public declaration.”

  Brooke kept walking, taking him along after her, until they reached the cedar break on the far side of the field. “What are you doing? Really, Audy?”